News Analysis
Chinese Premier Li Qiang is facing backlash from Chinese leader Xi Jinping over his disparaging remarks about the Chinese economy, according to some China analysts.
Beijing censored the premier’s speech, which he delivered at the Summer Davos Forum last month, in an attempt to conceal China’s current economic state amid power struggles in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the experts told The Epoch Times.
The World Economic Forum (WEF) hosted the 15th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, or Summer Davos Forum, in China’s Dalian city from June 25 to June 27.
In his speech, Mr. Li compared China’s post-pandemic economic recovery to that of a person recovering from a serious illness, suggesting a solution to boost China’s ailing economy.
“Instead of administering strong medication, it should be adjusted accurately and slowly following the practice of traditional Chinese medicine so that its roots can be gradually restored,” he said.
The foundation of the ill economy needs to be “consolidated and strengthened,” he added.
The Xi administration responded by censoring Mr. Li’s speech. The comment on fixing China’s economy was removed from Chinese state media’s coverage of the event. However, some Chinese media overseas, such as Lianhe Zaobao in Singapore, retained Mr. Li’s remarks.
Lai Jianping, a former Chinese human rights lawyer and president of the Canada-based Federation for a Democratic China, said that Mr. Li’s speech angered the CCP’s leader.
“The supreme command of China’s economy is in the saddle of Xi. For Xi, it is not up to Li whether he can give the medicine to cure the economy,” Mr. Lai told the Chinese edition of The Epoch Times on June 29.
He noted that Mr. Li’s comments were similar to those of his predecessor in revealing the actual economic situation—a bold move that drew the ire of the Party’s elite members.
In response, on July 1 of the following year, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the CCP’s founding, Xi announced that “China has built a moderately prosperous society.”
Premier’s Power Weakened Under Xi
Some China observers believe that Xi wants to limit Mr. Li’s authority.
For example, Xi appointed a different official instead of Mr. Li to attend an important science and technology conference on June 25.
Ding Xuexiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee, attended the event and delivered a speech, making his first public appearance as the head of the newly established Central Science and Technology Commission.
“Ding has never been involved in science and technology or the economy in his political career and has no experience in local governance. In comparison, Li has more experience [in those fields],” he said.
Mr. Chen said that Xi intends to cut off the premier’s influence. “When former Premier Li Keqiang was the head of the National Science and Technology Leadership Group, he won the support of many academics. Xi doesn’t want to see a similar situation.”
Mr. Li is the second most powerful figure in the CCP. He is a member of the Standing Committee of the Central Committee and the premier of the State Council.
Despite the influential titles, Mr. Chen said the premier doesn’t get special treatment, and unlike the business people who own private jets, Mr. Li travels on chartered planes when he goes on overseas trips. “Xi wants to limit Li’s power and doesn’t want the premier to attract too much attention,” he added.
China observer Mr. Lai shared the same views as Mr. Chen.
Dismantling of the State Council
Regarding Beijing’s past administrative reforms, Mr. Lai noted that the premier of the State Council was primarily responsible for the work of the government, while the ruling CCP leader was mainly in charge of the Party’s affairs. However, under Xi, the State Council has undergone a significant transformation, as it lost most of its administrative power in governing the country and the economy.
In March 2023, Mr. Li took over the premiership of the State Council. At the first regular meeting and the first plenary session of the State Council, he repeatedly emphasized that “the State Council is first and foremost a political organ” and that it must be “politically oriented” and “firmly uphold the authority and centralized leadership of the Party Central Committee with Xi Jinping at its core.”
At the same time, the CCP released a plan for reforming party and state institutions. The plan established central-level committees covering financial, science, and technology issues, as well as Hong Kong and Macau affairs. The State Council became an executive body of these committees, stripping the council of its financial leadership and placing it under the direct leadership of the Central Committee.
In addition, Mr. Lai said that the Central Social Work Department supervises the National Public Complaints and Proposals Administration. He added that the CCP has also established another new organization, the National Data Bureau, under the management of the National Development and Reform Commission. All of these organizations operate independently of the State Council.
Xin Ning contributed to this article.
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